Ron Fellows set for Trans Am return at CTMP

The Trans Am Series has seen a multitude of legends grace its paddock over its 48-year existence, but next week at Round 4 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship, a part of the Castrol Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend, one of those legends will return to that paddock once again: Ron Fellows.

In what will be his 100th Trans Am start, Fellows (LEFT) will make his return to America's Road Racing Series on his home track, as both a Trans Am entrant and part track-owner, racing in the No. 6 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette.

"It would be really special for Ron to win his 100th race, and on his home track," said Jim Derhaag, Owner of Derhaag Motorsports. "Ron and I go back to when he started racing in Trans Am and I was driving as well—we've been friends a long, long time; I can't think of anybody I'd rather run. Ron has driven for us in the past; and he and his wife, Lynda, are two of the nicest people you'll meet and good friends."

"I have a lot of good memories in Trans Am," said Fellows. "When Jim asked me if I wanted to race again, I thought: my home track, why not? When you're racing you need to be completely focused; and being the co-owner now, I kind of see the weekend as double duty, but I'm not worried. We have a terrific track staff, and I'm looking forward to just having fun racing Trans Am again."

Competing in the TA class, Fellows will find himself racing alongside rejuvenated competition in the Trans Am Series, key among them will be Doug Peterson, driver of the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette and defending TA Champion.

Peterson currently leads the TA class in points, with 94, and has won the past two Trans Am races at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and triumphed in two of the three Trans Am races so far this year. Joining Peterson will be proven TA winners including Tony Ave, Amy Ruman, Cliff Ebben, and Simon Gregg as well as a strong Canadian contingent in Allan Lewis, Andrew Romocki and Marc Steenbakkers.

Regardless of who is in the TA field, Fellows has to be considered one of the favorites to win the TA race. He won his first ever Trans Am race at the track in 1989 and as he put it, "It's not like we don't know the place."

TA2 will also be heavily featured over the course of the weekend, with all eyes on defending TA2 Champion Cameron Lawrence. The constant competitor, Lawrence will be looking to get the No. 1 Trick Titanium Chevrolet Camaro back atop the podium after a disappointing stint at Road Atlanta, where Lawrence and the No. 1 were forced into the pits after an incident in which the No. 44 ECC Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro of Adam Andretti made contact with the defending Champ, who was, at that time, vying for first position.

Lawrence's record speaks for itself with ten wins in the past 13 races—he also finished second at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park last year, leaving him well positioned going into this weekend.

Ron Keith, rookie driver of the No. 25 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, is also in the midst of a hot streak, finishing on the podium all three races so far this year—a fantastic start to both the season, and his career, one that has seen him rise to second in the points standings with 80 on the season so far.

TA3 American Muscle will feature one of the most competitive fields in the short history of the class. Included on the entry list are current points leader Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Performance/ Chevrolet Performance Chevrolet Camaro, two-race winner Dean Martin, in the No. 52 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang, defending champion Chuck Cassaro, in the No. 76 StackData/Aeromotive/Metallica Ford Mustang, as well as Ernie Francis, Jr, Fernando Seferlis and Rob Bodle.

Round 4 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship will begin on Thursday, May 15, with an official practice session from 3:50 pm to 4:20 pm EDT. The action will continue on Friday at 10:30 a.m. with another practice session, followed by qualifying later in the afternoon at 2:40 p.m. The 100.8-mile, 41-lap Trans Am race, featuring 34 entries across all three classes, commences on Saturday, May 17, at 1:40 p.m.